Premier League 'Big Six' struggling for support over five substitutes ahead of second vote

Swapping out: The first vote in August failed
Manchester United via Getty Imag
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP2 September 2020

The Premier League's 'Big Six' will make a fresh push to allow five substitutes in the coming season at a shareholders' meeting on Thursday.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed disappointment that clubs rejected the chance to continue the measure, which was in place for Project Restart to ease the pressure on players after such a lengthy lay-off.

The champions have been joined by Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Manchester City, as well as Brighton, in tabling a second vote on the issue, having lost the first 11 to 9 in early August.

But they are understood to be struggling to earn the 14 votes necessary for a change, with smaller clubs believing the rule would disproportionately benefit the bigger sides. West Ham and Crystal Palace are among those unlikely to budge tomorrow morning.

The 20 shareholders are also set to vote on a plan to decide the league table in the event that future Premier League seasons are abandoned due to a second wave of coronavirus or another unforeseen event.

As exclusively revealed by Standard Sport last month , the Premier League has suggested that final positions should stand if clubs have played just half – or 19 – or their league matches and any agreed mechanism is set to written into the competition's rules.

In addition, clubs are set to determine the final broadcast arrangements for the season, with furious supporters' groups pushing for all behind-closed-doors matches to be televised, while they will also be updated on the return of fans.

Supporters returned to a Premier League stadium on Saturday for the first time since March, with 2,500 at Brighton's Amex for a friendly against Chelsea.

However, clubs are expected unanimously agree to start the season with the same safety and hygiene protocols used during Project Restart, with supporters only likely to return from October 1.